On Sunday evening, Jacob Blake, a Black man and father of six, was shot seven times in the back, at point-blank range, by a Kenosha, WI police officer. The altercation and later shooting, which took place as Blake attempted to diffuse a police-involved dispute and later, tried to get back into his car, occurred in front of his children. As of recent, Blake is in critical condition and recovering in the hospital.
In a year that has already seen nationwide protests against police brutality and widespread calls for the abolition of the police state, Blake’s case has swiftly been met with mass outrage. Sunday (8/23) night, protestors in Kenosha took to the streets and were reportedly teargassed by police.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden gave an official statement which reads:
Yesterday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back as police attempted to restrain him from getting into his car. His children watched from inside the car and bystanders watched in disbelief. And this morning, the nation wakes up yet again with grief and outrage that yet another Black American is a victim of excessive force. This calls for an immediate, full and transparent investigation and the officers must be held accountable.
These shots pierce the soul of our nation. Jill and I pray for Jacob’s recovery and for his children.
Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism. It is the urgent task before us. We must fight to honor the ideals laid in the original American promise, which we are yet to attain: That all men and women are created equal, but more importantly that they must be treated equally.
Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris, as well as Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, Cory Booker, and other politicians spoke out about it too. See their tweets below.
Many musicians have taken to social media to express their outrage too. Among them, Cardi B shared the footage of the event on Instagram, saying, “Wow this is SICKENING! I can’t believe it! What’s going to be the excuse now? They just don’t give a fuckk nomore! SOMETHING MUST HAPPEN! Yooo this is insane they really not giving a fuck anymore. Lord please!”
Nick Kroll is promoting a link for a GoFundMe set up by Jacob Blake’s family:
Yesterday, Wisconsin police officers shot Jacob Blake in the back 7 times while his children watched. His family has started a GoFundMe to pay for Jacob’s medical bills, legal representation, and support for his children. Join me in donating: https://t.co/Mmf7n6DdhY
— nick kroll (@nickkroll) August 24, 2020
The Umbrella Academy‘s Justin H. Min is promoting ways to demand justice for Jacob Blake:
https://twitter.com/justinhmin/status/1298036702674485248
other ways to help:
petition: https://t.co/Le43YbsbEq
gofundme: https://t.co/aT1Q6Wa5Uf
milwaukee freedom fund (assisting protesters in kenosha with bail funds): https://t.co/ZzRRMxlXww
— Justin H. Min (@justinhmin) August 24, 2020
50 Cent, Best Coast, Griz, Sa-Roc, Immortal Technique, Anti-Flag’s Chris #2, comedian Margaret Cho, NBA star LeBron James, various other athletes, and other public figures reacted as well. See their tweets below…
👀No way what the f*ck kinda law enforcement is this? Shot this man 7 times in his back, in front of his kids.🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/9zOk6oUWf0
— 50cent (@50cent) August 24, 2020
Love and healing energy to Jacob Blake and his family. We love you brother. Can’t wait until your home with your children.❤️🌹🌹🌹#JacobBlake pic.twitter.com/GGstC74hYb
— sa-roc (@sarocthemc) August 24, 2020
Jacob Blake was trying to break up a domestic dispute and was shot in the back by police. This is another reason why personally I think defunding police to fund social programs is important. Police with guns should not be sent to de-escalate domestic disputes.
— GRiZ 🌈 (@Griz) August 24, 2020
Fuck the police forever until the end of time https://t.co/XotoKrNMDI
— Bethany Cosentino (@BethanyCoast) August 24, 2020
I’m not gonna show you a picture of Jacob Blake getting shot by the police in front of his family. I would rather show you that he was a good man who was breaking up a fight when police opened fire. There are factions in this country who can’t even admit this is happening. pic.twitter.com/x4CzaHDVHX
— Immortal Technique (@ImmortalTech) August 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/ChrisDos/status/1297930824059428866
I hope Jacob Blake recovers and lives long enough to learn his attempted killers have died in jail. #JusticeForJacob https://t.co/t2z7Wi8BQw
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) August 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/whereismuna/status/1297917430065373184?s=10
Fuck this passive voice. *Tonight, police shot Jacob Blake in the back multiple times, in broad daylight. https://t.co/xmdkHbXppJ
— Ratboys (@Ratboysband) August 24, 2020
And y’all wonder why we say what we say about the Police!! Someone please tell me WTF is this???!!! Exactly another black man being targeted. This shit is so wrong and so sad!! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want JUSTICE https://t.co/cJxOj1EZ3H
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 24, 2020
Jacob Blake should not be fighting for his life right now.
As @JoeBiden said, there must be an immediate investigation and the officers involved should be held accountable.
Jacob, our nation is praying for you and your entire family. https://t.co/F4CSs6JnjS
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 24, 2020
The police who shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times must be fired, arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Congress cannot wait any longer to act forcefully to end the horrific violence against Black Americans at the hands of police.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 24, 2020
Praying for Jacob Blake, his children, and his family.
It’s not enough to paint slogans. We need systemic change: ending qualified immunity, changing budget priorities, investing in communities harmed by overpolicing, and more.
The solutions are out there. We must act on them.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 24, 2020
Police in Kenosha shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back. His children were watching. I'm holding them all in my heart today and hoping for a full recovery. Police brutality is a daily threat to Black lives. We must demand accountability.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 24, 2020
I'm praying for Jacob Blake today.
I'm standing with everyone who believes justice must be served in this horrific case and too many others like it.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 24, 2020
We have again witnessed an unconscionable shooting of a Black man by police.
We pray for Jacob Blake and for his family, and demand that justice be served. https://t.co/pO8lEBvuvK
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 24, 2020
Feeling sick with rage. #DefundThePolice
— Heidi Schreck proud WGA member (@heidibschreck) August 24, 2020
Can’t reform policing in US b/c this is what it is. The violence is integral to maintaining race hierarchy & capitalism. There’s 3 dividing lines in political view rn— those who want to reinforce it, those who think we can reform it & those who understand it must be abolished 2/2
— Don’t Boo…Revolt! (@BreeNewsome) August 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/1297758655312326658?s=10
https://twitter.com/RoArquette/status/1297867845582241793
NFL players speak out on video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back by police in Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/LN2JNnm3If
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 24, 2020
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To help get involved in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism, here are some resources.